Wrong Turn

What is the price range for International (English speaking) School for 6-18 year olds, and what is the best way to go about picking one?

Definitely depends on what country you live in.

In Vietnam it's

$11,000 to $15,000 USD per year (10 month academic year).

This does not include school uniforms, extracurricular fees, and extras.

As for picking one, I'd consider a "real" international school that is a member of the international body. These schools are monitored and visited by representatives.

Also, there are nationality quotas. No more than 25% of a particular nationality can attend. If 25.1% of say, Koreans or Brits are attending the school, then it's not an International School.

Frankly speaking, if you have to ask, you can't afford it.

Wrong Turn . . I must of missed the point in time Vietnam renounced Communism and held free election! It's a one party state - it's not call a socialist republic for nothing - and one that is a SR that is based upon Ho Chi Minh and Marxists communist beliefs. 100% Communist however you want to look at it.

They always hold free elections, there's always more than one candidate to vote for in an election and you're free to coose to vote for any of them.

An additional note on elections:

To run, one does not have to be a communist party member, anymore.

The mayor of Saigon, is a business man in his later 40s.

The older communist "war heroes" are getting old, retiring, and dying.

Honestly folks, if you want to invest, consider Vietnam, depending on what industry you're in, and what your ideas are.

Wrong Turn . . I must of missed the point in time Vietnam renounced Communism and held free election! It's a one party state - it's not call a socialist republic for nothing - and one that is a SR that is based upon Ho Chi Minh and Marxists communist beliefs. 100% Communist however you want to look at it.

The Vietnamese government has not renounced communism, they just don't practice it anymore.

After Le Duan died in 1986, the government started "Doi Moi," which translates to "new thinking.

Vo Van Kiet brought the south Vietnamese way of thinking into Vietnamese national politics and economics - slightly.

The North Vietnamese leaders have to pretend - and lie - and claim that "socialism" and "communism" is they way things are, and that this system helps the Vietnamese people.

Why do they perpetuate this lie?

I think mainly because of the long struggle and war to conquer the South and instill Communist economics on the entire nation, which did major damage to the economy.

To admit Communism as a failure - at least publicly acknowledge it, would mean much was a do about nothing.

I talk with Vietnamese university students who have to false and failed dogma pumped into their heads.

If you want an MBA in Vietnam you have to study Marxism, and also "Ho Chi Minh" thought.

stupid yes. Implemented into economic society? No.

There is no socialism here.

There are elections in Vietnam at certain levels.

But the basic structure of the government is Leninist. The is a Central Comittee and a Politburo.

I have always hated communism and still do.

But VN, is not communist, nor even socialist. This ended, for the most part, in 1986.

a lot of talk about Thailand in this threat.

I thought this thread was about Vietnam.

Internet

Reading

Walking

Travel

photography

socializing

i would wish thais would be more considerate as noise is by far my biggest griev'ance living in thailand

the morning routine

the local mosque full blast 4. 50

local tuk tuk driver takes tuk tuk out of house leaves it running 5 minuets 5.30

locals turn on tv diffferent channels

neigbours take cars/pick-up and park out side engine's running ( air con )till they leave for work

looks like i'll be moving again

I use earplugs at night.

But I have a very loud alarm. Two alarms actually, and they sit right next to my bed.

Yes, living near a mosque is a problem.

Moving is a possiblity, but you still don't know what the new place will really be like, noise wise, until you move there.

It's a difficult situation.

Not sure that marriage is a good idea for anyone, but many gay expats would like to have equal treatment with visa priveledges with their same sex partners. Not meant to be a pro or con discussion about gay marriage in Thailand. More like a: do you think it will ever happen here, and if so, how many years from now?

Who cares?

I think this is better suited for the Gay Section.

Gay or straight, getting married in LOS, still means you're a second class citizen.

As for Vietnam being communist, I feel a whole lot more free than I did back in the states.

Vietnam is also a lot friendlier to foreigners than Thailand.

VN is not kommunist. The government does practice a form of Democratic Centralism. But in reality, this is the wild, wild, east. Capitalist to the name, and kommie in name only.

As foreigners, we have more freedom than in the US. Because we are foreigners.

Apparently, WTO is making the VN government end gasoline/petrol subsidies. Therefore, petrol is going up, leading to inflation on food, and other goods.

I think that Time is a terrible magazine that is very shallaw, and never gets into the meat.

The person of the year award is an arrogant display of what a few people.

I am a former subscriber. It's awful.

Thanks for posting your experience. Many still don't believe that the rule is now enforced. You were quite lucky that you got a friendly Immigration Officer.

I have been asked more than once to show proof of an onward ticket at the airport (leaving to go to LOS).

If Immigration inside Thailand is checking, people might want to get a cheap onward ticket. You can probably get a refundable ticket also.

Not too sure just what to think ?

There are some positive to this.

But will there be negatives?

There is a housing bubble in Saigon right now. Especially in Districts 7 and 2.

Rampant speculation.

Leases for restaurants and office space has increased dramatically.

If foreigners (with their money) can buy, maybe it cause more speculation, and more property increases. Maybe not, it's population is about 9-10 million.

As for Thailand, many will disagree with me, but if LOS allowed foreigners to buy land outright we'd see increases, and a "Farangland" in certain parts of the country.

At the moment my only hobbies are internet surfing, reading, and hanging with mates.

I need more.

Lack of motivation, though. I've always been that way.

Thai landlords are notorious for ripping farangs off on security deposits.

At the end of the day, if you tried to sue him, it would be "his word against yours " on the costs involved and in a Thai court I doubt you'd win.

In any event, it would cost you at least your 23K to get a lawyer to take on the case.

It really isn't worth the hassle and stress.

Chalk it up to experience.

This is why I only live in large, established, apartments.

Also, the local checkers come in and check the meter for my utilities.

Too many instances of skimming off of utilities, and not getting deposits owed.

In fairness, I've never had a problem because I always did a lot of research before moving to a new place, and signing a lease.

Hey all,

Has anyone gone through the process lately?

How long does it take? And what is cost? Is there an express option so I don't have to go back to embassy twice?

Ive got US passport and looking to check out Vietnam for first time.

Also, anyone have suggestions on which city to go to in Vietnam for a first-timer?

Cheers,

Moon

I can't recommend a city to see for the first time, but as for the visa, it takes about 4 days, and a travel agency or the VN embassy can do it for you.

Enjoy your trip.

I never understood the fascination with getting tattoos

There is no need for one to understand.

It's personal preference.

Some people like Chocolate, some people like Vanilla.

Some people prefer coffee; others prefer tea.

Some people prefer tatts, some people don't.

from Cameroon. Seemed like a nice enough guy and even ended up staying at the same hotel, sharing a few beers.

On my return to Thailand even had a night out with him and his thai girlfriend in Pattaya. He was based in Bangers but frequented Pattaya. I never found out what his actual business was.

A few days ago I get a call from the girlfriend, she was hysterical, the guy had been nabbed by the cops. He had a hundred thousand baht stuffed down his pants when they caught him according to the g/f. Charges alleged distribution of forged US dollars in Bangers as well as a complaint from an Indian guy accusing him of theft.

Anyway, the g/f must have thought I was loaded or something and wanted me to bail him out of Prison for 120,000 Baht.

The next day, doing a search on the net, I found the Pattaya City News site which states he had around 300,000 baht stuffed down his pants not 100,000 as the g/f insists. He is still in jail as far as I know and the cops confiscated his Rolex (I thought it was a fake, but hey, I'm no expert!) and other valuables.

As much as I wanted to help, I did smell a rat and steered clear of the situation.

My feelings at the moment are quite mixed, pity the guy on one hand but on the other if he is guilty as charged then he deserves all that's coming his way.

Just thought I'd share this story with you guys .

There are a lot of losers and hustlers in LOS.

I have a rule. Never loan anyone money.

Problem solved.

I would be VERY careful about drinking the bottled water offered in large (20-25 liter) bottles, unless it is from a reputable company.

I drive past a big garbage dump every day, and just next door is a water bottling operation. Do they pay city water prices and purify that further? Don't think so, they most probably have a shallow well, and the rest you can imagine, like seepage from the dump... For 2 B/liter, how often do you think they replace filters and broken UV lamps? Dream on!

I have heard (I didn't corroborate) that many of the large 20-25 liter jugs are not cleaned thoroughly sometimes. These containers are recycled, of course.

You can have the water tested for free somewhere in the city, if you want.

I only buy Aquafina and La Vie in 5 liter bottles.

I've spent my last eight Christmas Holidays and New Year as well in Thailand.

It feels a little strange being here in the states.

I am missing Thailand right now...

I bet you do miss it. I do.

Do you plan on returning to live in Thailand again in the future?

And, Merry Xmas.

As a Yank, I'll chime in.

The US Embassy is for the promotion of trade, relations, etc.

I understand this.

But generally, they are very unhelpful and not suppportive, and yes they are financed by the taxpayer.

The US Embassy's behavoir after the Tsuanami in Phuket was criticiaed heavily.

Global Warming (now called "Climate Change") is a serious issue obviously.

Sadly, in the US it's a political issue.

It shouldn't be.

It's an environmental issue.

Exxon-Mobil corporation pay $10,000 USD per article for a ph.d scientist to write an article challening the concept of man-made global warming.

And Frank Luntz, the political spin doctor work on the GWB campaign in 2000 and 2004 and introduced the concept of "Question the science."

After the 04 election, Luntz ran away and hid, and now does not answer any questions regarding global warming.

This is a perfect example of how corporations and big business control the media.

Many Asians lack an enzyme to process alcohol --hence the red faces on many drunk Asian people.

There's some interesting research on this.

If I remember correctly, one of the possible reasons is that in Asia people didn't drink alchohol, or as much alcohol as the Europeans did centuries and centuries ago.

The Europeans' bodies adapted because they drank more alcohol, and the Asians didn't.

Also, Native Americans in North America, who crossed the Land Bridge from North East Asia, don't seem to process alcohol well, either, as a whole.

I've been out and about this morning and have noticed Christmas decorations going up everywhere in this predominantly Buddhist Country. How lovely this is when you consider some Christian Countries are trying to ban Christmas because it's not bloody 'politically correct'.

I think that Christmas is way over done in Buddhist countries.

The Christmas decorations in South East Asia are primarily for marketing and selling products, IMO. Making money.

I'm not a Christian, BTW, but an agnostic.

I see "Christmas Sales."

Christmas is not a religious holiday but a pagan one, anyway. Mostly a form of cultural tradition. I do get together with family back in the U.S. but I don't do anything special in Asia.

I was recently invited to a special (and expensive) Christmas dinner at a hotel and I declined.

So, my point is: I think Christmas is over-hyped, and used to perpetuate mass consumption.

Looking back on your very first post on TV - how does it seem now?

Were you full of the joys of having discovered TV or indeed Thailand?

Forgive the newb question here, but it's related to the OP.

When did TV actually start? The first day?

It seems the oldest posts are from about 2003?

Is this forum, this new?

Anyone seen this?

Quite amazing that Bangkok Post print this. Even though one can say whatever one wants.

Hopefully a storm of mails/letters will hit them.

""

It is very difficult for oversized women to travel in Bangkok because of small taxis and little seats on the skytrain and the subway. You have almost nothing in the stores for oversized women and you never have articles in the Bangkok Post that address our special needs.

Thai women all look undernourished; the way they dress is disgusting, and the cosmetics they use are cheap and tacky.

Please address these issues in your newspaper.

SUSAN SUTTON

Chiang Mai ""

What arrogant, self-centered, ethno-centirc moron.

She must not know very much about Thailand.

There was one bad time in Seattle that I got the third degree: Many invasive questions (where do you work?, how can you afford to take a vacation?, where do you live?, what did you do in TH?, where did you go?, ever been in trouble with the law? etc., etc.). They ripped my bags apart, even x-ray'd a few things (package of bamboo place mats?). The guy was mostly polite, but very suspicious...kept me for an extra 40 minutes or so. I was the last person out...

My thought at the time: Welcome home to Amerika!

Now I just expect the worst, smile, and go on my way... Will be heading home soon for Christmas to visit Mom!

~~~

I have been asked questions upon my arrival, also. I have never understood why the questions asked were asked. But what's the point, I just answered this silly and foolish questions.

As an American, I believe Americans at airports (screeners, immigration officials) are the worst I've ever dealt with. They treat their own citizens (us) like garbage. These people tend to be uneducated, untravelled, and probably ware wanna-be cops, that could not be police officers. So, they take this lowing paying, brain-dead job - and bug us.